Pandemic Forklift Training Lessons Learned Revealed
Over a year into the COVID-19 pandemic, the Road Transport Industry Training Board (RTITB) has shared what has been learned through forklift training, what has changed, and how supply chains are preparing for a post-pandemic world.
Materials Handling World reports that the RTITB has reminded organisations that workplace safety should always remain a priority, despite any budget restrictions caused by the pandemic, and it has released an online eLibrary of training materials for forklift, LGV, and plant training.
Laura Nelson, Managing Director for RTITB, said: “In a short time, COVID-19 disrupted the world and the world of work, but the effects of the pandemic on the supply chain are ongoing.”
“Twelve months in we’ve seen some big differences in how businesses are looking to fulfil their lift truck operator training needs as a result.”
The RTITB saw a 130 per cent increase in enquiries for in-house RTITB Accreditation from November 2020 to January 2021, which is over twice that of the same period from 2019/20. It also reports that more warehousing and food manufacturing organisations were seeking to become RTITB Accredited in their own right, instead of outsourcing training requirements.
Nelson explained that the move seems to come from a desire for self-sufficiency, saying: “Many of the organisations we have dealt with were doing all the right things in terms of lift truck operator training, but simply want to deliver it themselves now with an in-house instructor, rather than outsourcing it.”
According to the training body, 38 per cent of RTITB Accredited sites are now training their own employees, which is an increase of 25 per cent on 18 months ago, and key factors for this change include a need for greater flexibility, access to training that suits operators’ shift patterns, and a need for training that is tailored to the organisation’s particular business and policies.
In-house RTITB Accreditation will also appeal to some organisations as it provides a means to easily train occasional users and agency workers without needing to bring in an external trainer.
‘Ad hoc’ lift training has become a more common requirement for businesses due to the need for isolating and shielding during the pandemic, but it could prove costly where courses are just for one operator. However, this kind of training has become essential for organisations to be able to cope with peaks in trade.
Aside from the benefits to training continuity, RTITB Accreditation for organisations delivering in-house lift truck operator courses is also designed to help improve safety and business efficiency through proactive risk reduction, in-house resilience, and ongoing improvement.
RTITB’s compliance experts assess and accredit the entire materials handling operation, not just Basic forklift operator training, supporting broader compliance. Also included is an annual compliance HealthCheck at no extra charge for complete peace of mind around legal and regulatory compliance in the event of an incident.
If you’re looking for forklift hire in Peterborough, get in touch today.